The Tampa Bay Buccaneers open their 2022 season on the road against the Dallas Cowboys inside AT&T Stadium on Sunday night. This will be Todd Bowles’ first game as the Buccaneers’ head coach after Bruce Arians resigned during the offseason. Conversely, Mike McCarthy is entering his third year at the helm in Dallas and led the franchise to a Wildcard berth last year.
READ MORE: Chris Godwin to play in Week 1
This matchup was made in 2021 and has the potential for fireworks again with Tom Brady on one side and Dak Prescott on the other. The running game will be crucial for any team. Dallas has a healthy one-two punch with Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard. The Buccaneers have Leonard Fournette back in the lineup and will work with rookie Rachaad White and veteran Giovani Bernard alongside him.
Dallas will be without wide receiver Michael Gallup in the contest. The Buccaneers are missing starting cornerback Zyon McCollum. However, wide receivers Chris Godwin and Russell Gage are expected to play, which gives Tampa Bay an advantage in the passing attack.
READ MORE: Buccaneers projected to trade for two-time Pro Bowl quarterback in 2023
BucsGameday will provide live updates throughout the evening on BucsGameday.com and our Twitter feed.
PREGAME:
– Chris Godwin and Russell Gage are both active for the Buccaneers
— Veteran tight end Kyle Rudolph is listed as inactive. This is a bit of a surprise, but Cam Brate has the starting job locked up plus Cade Otton and Ko Kieft could make an impact on special teams. Both starters will be in the lineup to open the season.
— Running back Ke’Shawn Vaughn is inactive. Rookie Rachaad White and veteran Giovani Bernard will get more opportunities behind starter Leonard Fournette.
FIRST QUARTER:
— Tampa Bay wins the toss and punts. Dallas will start the game with the ball.
– The Cowboys’ first possession starts at their own 13-yard line.
– Prescott throws from end to tight end Dalton Schultz for eight yards.
– Ekeziel Elliott finds a hole to the left and gains a first down.
– Buccaneers smell a cheating game. Sophomore linebacker Joe Tryon-Shoyinka makes an eight-yard tackle for a loss.
— Prescott lands in the pocket and hits CeeDee Lamb with a dart for a third-and-long conversion.
— Akiem Hicks takes down Elliott, but he still gains enough for a first down. Dallas is driving on its first possession of the game.
– Cowboys offensive lineman Connor McGovern is out. He was helped by off-field coaches.
— Cornerback Carlton Davis deflects a pass that was thrown up the middle to Lamb.
— Dallas converts on third-and-8 again after a Prescott pass to Noah Brown. Jamel Dean appeared to lose Brown on the play.
— Tampa Bay forces back-to-back incompletions to bring up fourth down. Dallas is taking the field goal drive for a 51 yard attempt.
– Brett Maher’s shot is right down the middle. Cowboys lead 3-0 with 9:02 left in the opening quarter.
– The Buccaneers will start their first possession at the 25-yard line after a punt.
— False start on Cam Brate. 1 and 15.
– Tom Brady throws to Chris Godwin for a 25-yard gain on the first play from scrimmage. Welcome back!
— Brady fakes and finds Mike Evans for 20 yards and a first down.
— Leonard Fournette hits a hole to the left and bounces off the first defender for a seven-yard gain.
– DeMarcus Lawrence tackles Shaq Magson and tackles Fournette for a loss. Tampa Bay will settle for a field goal.
— Ryan Succop connects on a 44-yard field goal. The Buccaneers tie things up at 3-3 with 5:05 left in the first quarter.
– Jake Camarda’s kickoff goes for a touchdown.
– Elliott struggles for some tough yards and it results in a gain of seven.
– False start on Terence Steele. Second and 8.
— Linebacker Lavonte David makes a great read and tips Prescott’s pass. It’s almost caught by Dean, but the defense makes it third and long.
— Hicks brings pressure and forces a foul shot from Prescott. Dallas will work.
— Jaelon Darden returns the punt for nine yards. Tampa Bay takes over on its own 31.
— Brady hits Evans near the sideline for 19 yards.
– Julio Jones gets his first catch as a Buccaneer for eight yards.
— Fournette breaks free to the left side for 16 yards and takes some defenders with him.
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– Stop the drive in the red zone and Tampa Bay will attempt another field goal.
— Succop is good from 38 yards. The Buccaneers take their first lead at 6-3 with 1:06 to play in the quarter.
— Dallas is called to hold on the kickoff return. Offense postponed to 10.
— Tampa Bay leads 6-3 at the end of the first quarter.
SECOND QUARTER:
— Dallas has 3rd and 4 from deep in its own territory.
— Lamb is unable to bring in the pass and the Cowboys will punt again.
– Back-to-back runs by Fournette make it 3rd and short.
— Jones picks up the end and gets a first down.
— Brady hits Jones for 13 yards and a first down.
— Fournette takes a pitch to the left side and drives inside the 15.
— Rachaad White’s first carry goes for an easy loss.
— Brady runs to Godwin to set up 3rd and 5.
— Micah Parsons sacks Brady on third down. Tampa Bay will try their third field goal of the half.
– Left tackle Donovan Smith is out with an apparent injury. He leaves under his own power.
— Succop pushes the field goal to the left. The score remains 6-3 with 7:31 to go in the half.
– Prescott rolls and hits Lamb for a first down.
— Donovan Smith is headed to the locker room. This is not good news for the Buccaneers.
— Dean makes an interception to draw 3 and 10.
— Pressure gets in Prescott’s face and his pass is intercepted by Winfield. Tampa Bay’s offense is back in action at the Dallas 23.
– Jones gets another end around and gets a first down.
– Third and 3 come within ten.
— Parsons goes to Brady again after beating lefty Josh Wells, who replaced Donovan Smith. Another possession, another field goal attempt for the Buccaneers.
— Succop jumps to kick a 29-yard field goal. Tampa Bay leads 9-3 with 3:25 left in the half.
— Otton makes his second tackle on special teams. A false start causes Dallas to start the drive at its own 13.
— Prescott runs the option and has a first down.
— Prescott throws in a tight window and the pass falls incomplete. 3rd and 10 comes for the Cowboys before the two minute warning.
— Shaq Barrett hits Prescott as he shoots and the pass is just short. Brady will have another opportunity before halftime to score a touchdown.
– The punt goes 53 yards and Tampa Bay takes over at its own 10.
— Brady throws down, but Godwin comes up with the ball. Godwin leaves after the game.
— Brate catches a pass up the middle for a conversion.
— Brady goes deep and connects with Jones for 48 yards.
— Tampa Bay stalls again. Succop will try his fifth field goal of the first half, this one from 47 meters.
— Succop scores his fourth field goal of the night. The Buccaneers lead 12-3 with 14 seconds left in the half.
— Keanu Neal sticks KaVontae Turpin on the kickoff return and that should do it.
— Tampa Bay leads Dallas 12-3 at halftime. The Buccaneers will take the ball to start the third quarter.
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